MS. HUGHES: Counselor to
President Bush. And I'm here to update you all on the
activities of the federal government in response to this morning's
attacks on our country.

As you heard from President Bush a short
time ago, the federal government is acting to help local communities
with search and rescue and emergency management operations, to take all
appropriate precautions to protect our citizens and to identify those
responsible for these despicable attacks on the American people.

While some federal buildings have been
evacuated for security reasons and to protect our workers, your federal
government continues to function effectively. We have a
federal emergency response plan, and at President Bush's direction, we
are implementing it. We began to implement it immediately
after the first attack in New York this morning.

We contacted American forces and embassies
throughout the world and placed them on high alert. The
United States Secret Service immediately secured the President, the
Vice President and the Speaker of the House, and they are all
safe. They have also secured members of the national
security team, the President's Cabinet and senior staff.

As you know, President Bush was in
Sarasota, Florida when the first attack occurred this
morning. Air Force One has now landed at Offitt Air Force
Base in Omaha, Nebraska, and the President is in a secure location. He
is in continuous communication with the Vice President and key members
of his Cabinet and national security team.

Vice President Cheney and our National
Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, are in a secure facility at the
White House. I have just come from there. The
Secretary of Transportation and other members of our White House senior
staff are gathered at a command center there, and we are coordinating
with other branches of our federal government.

The Secretary of Defense remains at the
Pentagon, and the Secretary of State is en route back to Washington
from his trip to South America.

President Bush is conducting a meeting of
the National Security Council as we speak. They are meeting
President Bush from his location and other members from different
locations in Washington and other locations.

As many of you have been reporting, the
Federal Aviation Administration ordered all airports closed, and all
planes which were in the air were directed to land at the nearest
airport. International flights were diverted to alternate
locations outside of the United States.

Transportation Secretary Mineta has
directed the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend operations
until at least 12:00 noon tomorrow. So, no airline flights will
operate until at least then, and until the FAA announces that
operations will be resumed.

Secretary Mineta has also issued orders
controlling the movement of all vessels in United States navigable
waters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has
activated eight urban search and rescue task forces in New York and
four of these highly-trained teams are at work here in Washington at
the Pentagon.

Every federal agency has implemented
continuity of operations

and four of these highly trained teams are at work in Washington at
the Pentagon. Every federal agency has implemented
continuity of operations plans to make sure the government continues to
function effectively.

While the market is closed today because
of the situation in Manhattan, the United States financial system has
continued to operate. Banks have been open all day. The
Federal Reserve has operated regularly and continuously.

The Department of Health and Human
Services has mobilized medical personnel and supplies to provide help
to local authorities who are working so diligently to respond and try
to help the victims of these terrible attacks.

President Bush has committed the full
resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to
identify and bring to swift justice those responsible for these
despicable attacks. The Department of Justice is setting up
a hotline for families who fear that their relatives may have been
victims of one of these attacks, and we will be announcing that
telephone number shortly.

Our fellow citizens and our freedom came
under attack today. And no one should doubt America's
resolve. President Bush and all our country's leaders thank
the many Americans who are helping with rescue and relief
efforts. We ask our fellow Americans for your prayers for
the victims, for their families, for the rescue workers, and for our
country.

Thank you all very much. And we
will continue to update you as information is available and confirmed.